TRENDS

From the March 2003  issue of Communications News

Prevailing wisdom says that the market for voice and data networking products is moribund, at best, or even non-existent. While the flow of “customer win” reports is slower than two years ago, announcements of new installations for a variety of enterprise solutions continue at a relatively brisk pace, indicating that customers are still buying–at least in some areas. Here are a few examples:

WIRELESS FOR SECURITY

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is deploying a high-speed wireless electronic surveillance system in a multimillion-dollar security initiative for the San Francisco area’s transportation infrastructure. Called Bay Area Security Enhancement (BASE), the project uses video cameras with encoders that convert images into Internet protocol packets. The IP packets then are transmitted by Proxim Tsunami wireless base stations and Ethernet bridges to a Caltrans office.

Once completed, the BASE system will connect all major Bay Area transportation infrastructure to Caltrans and to each other. The high-speed wireless solution was selected over fiber-optic cabling due to time and cost considerations, according to David Brown of primary contractor Royal Electric. “Not only would fiber have required more time to lay,” he says, “but it would have cost three to five times more than the wireless system.”

VPN FOR THE COAST GUARD

The U.S. Coast Guard is now using virtual private network (VPN) technology to link its remote recruiting sites, with an expected 100 locations to be provided the secure connections by year’s end. The solution chosen, from NetScreen Technologies of Sunnyvale, Calif., allows the Coast Guard to securely connect its highly distributed network without compromising its critical central network.

After reviewing several VPN options, the Coast Guard selected the NetScreen-5XP integrated firewall and VPN security appliances for their security capabilities and manageability. The appliances are linked to a NetScreen-500 at a central Coast Guard facility.

VOIP IN DELAWARE

Delaware-based chemical company SPI Polyols recently installed a voice-over-IP PBX at its headquarters in New Castle and at its facility in Lewes, Del. A company site in Grand Haven, Mich., was to be added in January, with manufacturing plants in Mapleton, IL, and Marseille, France, expected to be similarly equipped later this year. Shoreline Communications’ IP PBX was chosen to replace the company’s existing PBX system.

According to David Green, IT director at SPI Polyols, maintenance on the six-year-old PBX was the deciding factor. “Costs were rising 20% a year,” he says, “and that didn’t include expensive software upgrades. And we had four locations with four different phone systems.”

The new system provides such features as PC-based call management, call center capability and the ability to set up call groups across multiple locations.

“The IP solution was simply laid on top of the network, and connected through a gigabit port on our backbone we upgraded last year,” Greene says. “One of our network managers did the whole installation himself.”

BROADBAND FOR STUDENTS

Students in the Harrisburg Public School District in Pennsylvania now are connected to the newest broadband services, such as streaming media, through the district’s new 10 Gigabit Ethernet network. The $4.5-million communications upgrade is expected to save money for the school district by streamlining operations and reducing connectivity costs, as well as by avoiding future expenses for network capacity expansion to support new facilities and emerging technologies.

The network, designed and built by Avaya Inc., is capable of sending voice, data and video to the district’s 17 facilities at spends 15 times faster than previously possible. Built on Avaya’s MultiService Infrastructure, Avaya’s MultiVantage software, in conjunction with the company’s media server, extends telephony and call-processing features from a central location to classrooms and offices in each facility. By centralizing voice, data and video operations, and employing IP telephony, the district eliminates separate voice and data networks, as well as duplicate management and maintenance tasks.

“This new network allows us to optimize communications among staff, teachers and parents,” says John Weaver, the district’s IT director, “while providing our students with high-speed access to outside resources on a scale that was previously not possible. We can add a new school, connect with a college, quickly download files and applications, access the Internet, or adopt any new technology that comes along.”

STUDENTS LEARN VIRTUALLY

The virtual classroom is now part of the curriculum for students in Alvin, Texas. Consisting of 16 campuses, 11,500 students and 1,300 faculty, the Alvin Independent School District has implemented an in-the-classroom videoconferencing solution that allows on-demand sharing of lessons and courses among classrooms in the same school and with other district schools.

The district’s system employs a PowerPlay eight-way, IP videoconferencing system from Numerex Corp. The solution does not require an external bridge or media control unit, and is designed for use by non-technical personnel. Built around high-performance desktop PCs, the solution offers single audio and video input, and is typically configured with a single desktop camera and headset. The system’s collaboration capabilities allow sharing of documents, Web pages, and software and other applications during a conference.

“The solution is ideal for effective, synchronous distance learning,” says Greg Smith, district superintendent. “It allows us to continue to keep pace with our ambitious technology goals, is easy to use, and our teachers and staff are easily trained on its operation.”

POLICE UPGRADE IN MAINE

With a jurisdiction covering more than 33,000 square miles and responsibility for a population of 1.3-million people, the Maine State Police needed a public safety solution that could meet its growing communications needs, while increasing public and officer safety.

“We were looking to establish an integrated network of systems that were able to effectively communicate with each other,” says Lt. Col. Jeffrey Harmon. “The solution we chose provides the agency with increased functionality and more efficient operations.”

The project, scheduled for completion this summer, will use a portfolio of integrated communications and information solutions from Motorola, Schaumburg, Ill., to address mission-critical public safety and security requirements. The system will include Motorola’s Premier Computer Aided Dispatch, Premier Mobile Data Computer (MDC) and Premier MDC reporting systems.

With the new system, dispatchers in four communication centers throughout the state will have the ability to initiate and manage incidents, and dispatch resources. In addition, Premier MDC wireless computers will be installed in 275 police vehicles, providing officers with first-hand knowledge of potentially dangerous situations.

For more information from the companies in this article:

Avaya
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Motorola
www.rsleads.com/303cn-269

NetScreen Technologies
www.rsleads.com/303cn-268

Numerex Corp.
www.rsleads.com/303cn-267

Proxim Corp.
www.rsleads.com/303cn-266

Shoreline Communications
www.rsleads.com/303cn-264